Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain together? Feels like striking gold. Not only are they the two most famous sites in Peru, they’re etched in our collective psyche. And guess what: we’re checking off both in just four days! Starting in Cusco, we’ll first hike a short two-day Inca Trail, with its Andean peaks, subtropical cloud forest and numerous ruins, culminating, of course, with the Lost City of the Incan Empire. The next two days will be reserved for camping in the Andes and reaching Vinicunca—the unreal Rainbow Mountain standing 11,155 feet above sea level. Enjoy Peru’s finest in four epic days.
Cusco,Perú was amazing!!!!!!! And I would say Crossover Peru and their incredible and knowledgeable guide Juan Carlos made that experience so much beautiful and fulfilling. They were sooo organized, professional, kind and transmitted that sense of responsibility, respect and security we all look for when we select and trust a tour guide agency in a foreign place we (at least this was my first time visiting Perú) have never been before. He was very welcoming and my family just learned so much about Perú, he explained everything we were going to do and the information of each attraction as many times as we asked with such serenity a peace. Oh and the best part, he is a great photographer, have amazing pictures thanks to him. Thank you for everything guys! Blessings!
I loved every bit of my experience with Crossover Peru. I was lucky enough to be led by Juan Carlos on both the Rainbow Mountain and One day Inca Trail hikes. He was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend the team to anybody who visits Cusco in the future. So grateful!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To participate in this guided Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain hiking tour, you should be a physically active person and have a very good level of fitness. You should be a person that regularly hikes, especially in hilly terrain. You will hike for four days in a row, tackling challenging terrain and covering up to 8 miles (13 km), with altitude gains of up to 2,000 feet (600 m).
That said, the main obstacle during your hikes will be high altitude. Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) boasts an altitude of 16,400 feet (5,000 m), which is a challenge for all hikers, regardless of their experience. It is necessary to acclimate a couple of days before the tour in Cusco. You may also consider taking medicine for altitude sickness, but make sure to check with your physician. Drinking coca leaves tea is also a popular local remedy for altitude sickness.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Bring comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing that can be worn in layers. You’ll be able to discuss your packing list prior to the adventure—changes can be made depending on the season and expected weather conditions.
It is advisable and important that you arrive at Cusco at least 2 days prior to the trek, in order to acclimatize to the altitude. The city of Cusco is located at 11,155 feet (3,400 m) above sea level so you may feel slightly ill or dizzy due to altitude sickness, known as “soroche.”
A few tips on do’s and don’ts for adapting to the altitude:
Group sizes and prices:
Short Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain trek can be arranged for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Cusco, which is the beginning point of your trip, most people fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. From there, take a taxi or a shuttle to your accommodation.
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at 5.30 on Day 1. Please note that it is necessary to stay in Cusco a couple of days before the tour starts to acclimate yourself.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
